Hand operated embossing device



April 2, 1963 D. TRAVAGLIO HAND OPERATED EMBossING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 24, 1961 INVENToR. //L/vy 71E/:mano BY April 2, 1963 '0. TRAvAGLlo 3,083,807

HAND OPERATED EMBOS'SING DEVICE Filed July 24, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5,::E. Ti. E E.

INVENToR. @AL/Vy WMV/46H0 47' TUR/V575 United States Patent O 3,083,807 HAND OPERATED EMBGSSlNG DEVCE Dalny Travaglio, Berkeley, Calif., assignor to Dymo Iudustrlcs, Inc., Berkeley, Calif., a corporation of Callforna Filed `luly 24, 1961, Ser. No. 126,336 7 Claims. (Cl. 197-6.7)

This invention generally relates to hand operated machines for embossing selected indicia yon a strip of embossable material, and is more specifically directed towards a simplified compact tool for performing this function.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hand operated embossing tool wherein a continuous strip of ernbossable vtape or the like is fed from a magazine past suitable embossing dies in which novel means are provided for facilitating insertion of the free end of the tape to and through the tape feed rollers.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ernbosser of the type described in which novel plastic dies are utilized for performing the embossing operation.

A `further object of the invention is to provide an ernbossing tool as above defined in which the actuating handle may be releasably locked in an inoperative position adjacent the body but readily and simply released when the tool is to be used.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device as above described in which an improved cut-off mechanism is utilized to transversely cut the tape after a label has been embossed thereon.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of .the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

-Referring to said drawings:

kFIGURE l is a top plan view of the embossing tool of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

:FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated -by line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated Iby line 4 4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse cross-sectional View taken substantially in the plane indicated by Iline `5--5 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is another transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 6 6 of FIGURE 1.

lFIGURE 7 is la view similar .to FIGURE 6, but illustrating the die members in embossing relation.

FIGURE 8 is a portional side elevational view of the front of the tool showing the cut-off mechanism in operative relation.

FIGURE 9 is an end elevational view of the tool.

r[The tool of the present invention generally includes a body 12 provided with a tape supply #13 adjacent the rear end 14 thereof, tape embossing means 1'6 adjacent the front end 17, tape feed means 18 `for advancing the tape towards and through the embossing means, and a handle 19 operatively connected to the body and adapted upon actuation to effect an embossment of the tape and a sequential advance thereof for the next succeeding tape embossment. This general combination is not new and is shown for example in application Serial No. 809,072, led April 27, 1959, Now Patent No. 3,006,451.

More particularly, as here illustrated, the body 12 and "ice handle 19 are of generally opposed channel-like crosssectional form, and the tape supply 13 is preferably in the form of a magazine 21 in which a coil of tape 22 may be contained. The magazine is provided with opposed `side walls 23 adapted to seat within the side walls of the body channel, and the magazine is further provided with a generally tangential tape outlet 24 through which the tape may be withdrawn upon use of the tool.

Handle 19 is provided with an upstanding ear 26 adjacent the front end thereof and -by means of a transverse shaft 27 extending through the side walls of the body, the handle is pivotally attached to the body for movement between the positions shown in FIGURE 2 and 3 respectively,

The tape advancing means 18 constitutes an improvemeut over the means previously utilized in this type of apparatus since only a single tape roller 218i is utilized in comparison to the dual rollers heretofore required. As best :illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 5, roller 28, which is preferably formed of rubber or other high friction material and provided with a knurled periphery, is journalled on .a transverse pin 29 carried by the body 12. The roller is contained substantially completely within the depth of the side walls of the body, and the tape 22 is adapted to pass between the top wall 31 of the body and -the roller 2S in such manner that as the roller is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction, as View in FIGURE 3 (as will be hereinafter described in more detail), the tape 22 will be caused to advance from the magazine 21 towards and through the embossing means 16. It is also important to note that between top wall 31 and roller 28, a convex leaf spring 62 is provided, `such spring 'being contained within longitudinally spaced bosses 34 extending from the top wall, and the tape 22 is engaged between the spring and roller. In this manner, the spring will insure proper frictional engagement of the roller with the tape so that the latter will `be advanced an amount equal to the peripheral rotation of the roller.

.To facilitate initial insertion and proper feeding of the tape to and past the roller 2S, a tape guide mechanism 36 is provided in the body 12. Such mechanism consists of a generally flattened V-shaped member having a first wall 37 extending downwardly and forwardly from wall 31, a ilat intermediate wall 38 generally parallel to wall 31, and a third wall 39 extending upwardly and forwardly from the forward end of wall 38 and terminating adjacent the upper periphery of roller 28. The edges of wall 39 extend downwardly and then inwardly as indicated at 41 to insure retention of the tape substantially against wall 39.

Feed means 18, which includes roller 28, also includes a manually operable drive wheel 43 `connected to roller 28 by a shaft 44, on which a ratchet wheel 46 is also mounted. Ratchet wheel 46 is normally engaged by a pawl 47 carried at the end of an arm 48, the latter being pivotally attached to handle 19 at 49 and resiliently urged in a Counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 2 by a torsion spring 51 so as to effect engagement of pawl 47 with ratchet wheel 46. A link 52 is also pivoted to the handle by pivot 49 and is longitudinally slotted as indicated at 53 to slide past shaft 44 during handle actuation and serves to limit the outward pivoting action of the handle 19.

With the foregoing arrangement, it will be appreciated that when handle 19 is manually squeezed towards body 12, the pawl 47 will freely ride over the teeth in ratchet wheel 46. However, upon contra movement of the handle, the pawl will engage a tooth and rotate ratchet wheel in a `clockwise direction, and since the roller 28 is connected to the wheel, the tape 22 will be thereby advanced. Arm 43, adjacent its pivot `49, is provided with a manually engageable extension 56, which may be depressed against the action of spring 51 to release the pawl 47 from its engagement with the ratchet wheel teeth. While so depressed, the drive wheel 43 may be rotated to retract the tape. A detent 57 secured to the bodyand engageable with the ratchet wheel teeth provides a means of retracting the tape a predeterminal amount.

Embossing means 16 constitutes a departure from conventional embossing dies in that both the male and female dies are formed entirely of a plastic material. As here shown, the body 12 is provided with spaced laterally projecting die-supporting members 61 and 62 through which a shaft 63 is mounted, and the upper and lower die members 64 and 66 respectively are journalled for rotation about such shaft so as to present selective indicia on the dies to the tape 22 passing therebetween. With the dies formed of a molded plastic, such as an acetal resin sold in the United States under the trademark Delrin by E. I. 'Dupont Polychemicals, it has been found that such mate- ?rfia is suiciently hard to produce clear sharp embossnents on polyvinyl chloride tape, Ifor example. The up- 'per female die disk has the characters such as numbers or letters provided in the form of cavities `67 on the lower surface, while the male die disk has corresponding characters in the form of projections 68 on the upper surface, and each projection is provided on a tongue 69 which is formed by radially slotting the die 66 as indicated at 71. In this manner, upward pressure on selected ones of said tongues will cause the latter to be deflected and urged into mating relation with the female -die cavity, and with the tape 22 between the dies, to emboss the same.

The dies are,V operated by squeezing handle 19 towards the body 12 from the position shown in FIGURE 6 to that shown in FIGURE 7. A punch 73'is slidably carried in a bore provided in the body, and is normally urged outwardly or toward the handle by a spring 74. lower end of the punch is provided with a rounded head 76 which slidably engages an anvil 77 carried by the handle. The upper end of the punch is normally spaced from the male die 66, but when the handle is actuated and moved towards the body against the pressure of spring 74, the punch is raised and forces the male die tongue 69 into operative relation with its corresponding female die cavity. When the handle is released, the spring 74 causes 94, with such portion 93 and plate `94 each having an enlarged aperture for free reception of a retaining screw 96 engaged in boss 26 of the handle. A spring actuating arm 98 having a lateral actuating handle 99 is pivoted to the handle by a pin '2, and the front end of the arm is provided with a cam surface 103 engageable with plate 94 whereby pivotal movement of the arm will urge spring portion 91 upwardly across the tape opening and shear any tape projecting therefrom. Arm 98 is normally maintained in a recess provided in the handle by the resiliency of the curved portion of the shear knife which interconnects the flatter portions 91 and 93.

What is claimed is:

l. In an embossing tool having a body and a handle selectively movable from and towards said body, die members carried by said body and actuated by movement of said handle towards said body, supply means in said body holding a strip of material to be embossed, said body having a generally channel-like form open towards `said handle and including opposed side walls and a top wall, a strip drive roller journalled between said side walls and having the periphery thereof adjacent said top wall, a resilient strap-like element disposed inV said top The wall and having a convex surface in opposed relation to said roller whereby a strip fed between said top wall and said roller will be engaged between said roller and said element and advanced lfrom said supply means to 1 said die members upon roller rotation, and means interconnecting said handle and said drive roller for rotating the latter upon movement of the handle away from said body.

2. In a'tool for embossing a continuous strip of material having a body, a handle pivoted -to said body adjacent the front end thereof, die members on said body between which said strip is adapted to pass, means operatively connecting said handle and said die members for actuating -t-he latter upon movement of said handle towards said body, a strip feed roller and a ratchet wheel a return of the handle to its normal position, and such Y* movement results in an advance of the tape for the next succeeding embossment through the ratchet wheel and pawl drive. v

As another important feature of the present tool, the handle may be releasably retained in its closed position illustrated in FIGURES 3, 4 and 7. With particular reference to FIGURE` 4, it will be noted that arm 48 which carries ratchet wheel pawl '47, likewise carries a hook-like extension 79 projecting in a contra-direction to pawl 47. This extension is adapted to releasably engage a pin 81 carried Vby the body when the'handle is in a relatively closed position and the arm 48 manually urged against the forceof the torsion spring into pin engaging position. This locking action occurs before the handle is fully closed, so to release the lock, the handle is further depressed, without suflcient pressure to emboss, until the yarm 48 swings clear to release the extension 79 from pin `81. It will also be understood that the handle may be actuated to effect rotation of the ratchet wheel and tape Adrive roller without effecting embossment.

VIn order to cut off the tape 2.2 after the same has been embossed, particular attention is directed towards FIG- URES 8 and`9 of the drawings where the novel cut-off mechanism is best disclosed. The latter consists of a shear blade in the form of a bent piece of steel spring 86 having one end angled and beveled as indicated at 87 Vadjacent the tape outlet opening `88 at the front of the body, and such end cooperates with a hardened shear plate 89 overlying such opening. 'Ihe portion 91 of the knife on which the cutting edge is provided is retained in position by a front wall 92 of the body, and the angularly related portion 93 of the knife is carried on a plate journalled on a common -transverse element of said body for simultaneous rotation, a spring loaded pawl pivotally carried on said handle engaging said ratchet wheel for Vlimiting rotation of the latter toa single direction, manually operable means for releasing said pawl from said wheel, said pawl being operative to rotate said wheel and roller upon movement of said handle away from said body, and said pawl having a projection and said body having a lock element whereby said pawl may be urged out of ratchet wheel engagement and said projection engaged 4with said lock element for releasably retaining said handle in a Igenerally closed position.

3. A tool as set for-th in claim 2 in which saidpawl Y bossed strip is discharged, the combination' therewith of` a generally dat shear element mounted for sliding movement transversely across -said opening, a wall carried by said body in spaced relation to said opening and defining a forward retainer for said shear element, Vand an actuating arm for resiliently urging said shear element across said opening for cutting off the strip projecting therefrom.

5. The tool as claimed inclaim 4 further characterized by said shear element being yformed of a relatively flat metal strip having a cutting edge adjacent said opening and an integral angularly rela-ted portion connected to said handle, and said arm being pivotally attached to said handle and provided with a cam surface for resiliently forcing said cutting edge across said opening.

6. In an embossing tool having a body and a handle selectively movable from and towards said body, die members carried by said body and actuated by movement of -said handle towards said body, supply means in said body `for holding a strip of material to be embossed, said body having a generally channeldike form open towards said handle and including opposed side walls and a top wall, a strip drive roller journalled between said side walls and having the periphery thereof adjacent said top wall whereby `a strip fed between said top wall and said roller will be advanced `from said supply means to said die members upon roller rotation, means interconnecting said handle and said drive roller for rotating the latter upon movement of the handle away from said body, and a strip guide member between said body side walls extending `from adjacent the periphery of said roller and said top wall towards said supply means and inclined towards the open portion of said channel, said guide member including a dat strip engaging surface and inturned ilanges adapted to overlie marginal portions of a strip positioned against said surface, and said guide member further including a second strip engaging surface extending from adjacent the open end portion of -said channel towards said supply means and inclined towards said top wall.

7. In a tape embossing tool having a body and a handle pivoted to said body and movable from and towards said body, die members carried by said body actuated by movement of said handle towards said body, a tape feed roller journalled on said body and rotatable to advance a tape upon movement of said handle from said body, said body having an opening disposed forwardly of said die members through which an embossed tape is discharged, the combination therewith of a shear element mounted for reciprocal sliding movement transversely across said opening, means carried by said body lin spaced relation to said opening and defining a forward guide for said shear element, means normally urging said shear element into an inoperative position out of registration with said opening, and an actuating arm mounted for pivotal movement on said tool yabout a transverse axis thereof for moving said shear element across said opening for cutting oit the str-ip projecting forwardly therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,959,293 Phillips May 15, 1934 2,415,526 Payne Feb. 1l, 1947 2,715,270 Oxhandler Aug. 16, l955 2,763,893 Hall Sept. 25, 1956 2,930,465 Lotsch Mar. 29, 1960 

1. IN AN EMBOSSING TOOL HAVING A BODY AND A HANDLE SELECTIVELY MOVABLE FROM AND TOWARDS SAID BODY, DIE MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID BODY AND ACTUATED BY MOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLE TOWARDS SAID BODY, SUPPLY MEANS IN SAID BODY HOLDING A STRIP OF MATERIAL TO BE EMBOSSED, SAID BODY HAVING A GENERALLY CHANNEL-LIKE FORM OPEN TOWARDS SAID HANDLE AND INCLUDING OPPOSED SIDE WALLS AND A TOP WALL, A STRIP DRIVE ROLLER JOURNALLED BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS AND HAVING THE PERIPHERY THEREOF ADJACENT SAID TOP WALL, A RESILIENT STRAP-LIKE ELEMENT DISPOSED IN SAID TOP WALL AND HAVING A CONVEX SURFACE IN OPPOSED RELATION TO SAID ROLLER WHEREBY A STRIP FED BETWEEN SAID TOP WALL AND SAID ROLLER WILL BE ENGAGED BETWEEN SAID ROLLER AND SAID ELEMENT AND ADVANCED FROM SAID SUPPLY MEANS TO SAID DIE MEMBERS UPON ROLLER ROTATION, AND MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID HANDLE AND SAID DRIVE ROLLER FOR ROTATING THE LATTER UPON MOVEMENT OF THE HANDLE AWAY FROM SAID BODY. 